The Chinese government unveiled its new attack helicopter to the public at an airshow in the southern city of Zhuhai. China’s new attack helicopter can be compared to the helicopters made in the U.S. and Russia.

Called the WZ-10 or “Thunder Fire,” it can be compared the AH-64 Apache of the U.S. and the Russian Mil Mi-28. It is designed for anti-tank missions and according to chief designer Wu Ximing, “The WZ-10 is one of the top three attack helicopters in the world.” An unnamed Chinese expert said that the WZ-10 is more maneuverable at low altitude than the Apache, but it is deficient in thrust and firepower. Demonstration of the attack helicopter performing a vertical climb was shown on national television.

Development for the WZ-10 started way back in 1990s. China’s military planners observed the helicopter use of the United States during the first Gulf War.

China Aviation Industry Corp. (AVIC) also showed another helicopter designed for armed reconnaissance and support for ground troops called the WZ-19 or “Black Tornado.” Over 30 foreign military diplomats attended the event.

Helicopters are very important in military and China are catching up with the big military powers. Check out the wood model helicopters from Warplanes along with their other aviation models.

The Obama administration has committed to deciding by Oct. 1 whether to allow the sale of 66 Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16 jets to Taiwan, according to an aide to Sen. John Cornyn.

China opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which it considers a renegade province, and has tried to block sales of the F-16 airplanes to the island. Taiwan President Ma Ying-Jeou has pressed the U.S. to speed up decision on the jets.

The U.S.-Taiwan Business Council said the timing of the decision “suggests that the Obama administration has no intention” of approving the sale of new F-16 jets. The date is sandwiched between Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to China in August and Chinese President Hu’s expected trip to Hawaii, the group said.

“It doesn’t seem plausible that the Obama administration would stand up for Taiwan policy in the face of two such senior visits from China,” the group said in a news release.

Helicopter manufacturer Avicopter aims to achieve certification next November and complete first deliveries for its light commercial helicopter, the AC311, before the end of 2011.

Avicopter President Wang Bin said the 2-metric-ton AC311 helicopter, which had its first flight on Nov. 8 near the Avicopter Tianjin assembly plant, has already secured orders from two Chinese police force customers. He said that the Guizhou city and Tianjin Binhai police forces have each ordered one AC311. Wang also says Avicopter plans to market the aircraft overseas. The multipurpose helicopter can also be used for law enforcement, search and rescue, flight training, tourism, VIP transport and aerial photography. The helicopter is designed for large-scale industrial production and will be competitively priced. It is the second civil helicopter produced by Avicopter.

Powered by one Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 turboshaft engine, the AC311 has a maximum takeoff weight of 2.2 metric tons and can seat six people. Avicopter says composite materials are widely used in “the design of the rotor head, main blades and tail blades.” Wang says the main cabin is made of composite materials, but the “tail structure is made of aluminum to keep the price down.”

In addition to the AC311, Avicopter is also designing a 1t helicopter, the AC310.

U.S. President Obama issued a waiver loosening Tiananmen arms sanctions for C-130 military transports for China a day after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to an imprisoned Chinese dissident who dedicated the prize this past weekend to the victims of the 1989 crackdown.

Chinese state-run news media on Monday hailed the White House waiver announcement as a sign Washington is moving to lift the 11-year-old arms embargo.

However, White House National Security Council spokesman Michael Hammer said the waiver issued on Saturday will not allow C-130s sales. “Under this announcement, we are not selling any aircraft to anyone,” he stated in an e-mail.

The President’s letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announcing the waiver states that it is lifting a ban on “temporary munitions export licenses” for C-130s that currently is banned by the fiscal 1990 Foreign Relations Act. The law bars sales to China of “any defense item on the U.S. Munitions Control list” unless “the president makes a report” waiving the restriction.

Mr. Hammer said the waiver is intended to assist companies in Southeast Asia that use C-130s for cleaning up oil spills. The waiver will permit C-130s to land in China to refuel, or take on chemicals used in dispersing oil spills, after first obtaining a U.S. export license, he said.

The waiver announcement and China’s view of it raised concerns among some specialists who view it as a step by the Obama administration toward eventually lifting the arms embargo.

“The C-130 proposal is obviously a toe in the water and, as such, should be rejected,” said John Bolton, former undersecretary of state for international security. “This administration seems to have two messages about America for foreign governments: weak and weaker.”

In the wake of the latest Pentagon report on China’s military might, Taiwan has repeated its plea for advanced F-16 warplanes from the United States to defend itself — apparently from a potential Chinese military threat.

Receiving visiting U.S. Senator Roland Burris on Thursday, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou requested the U.S. government to “cautiously consider selling F-16C/Ds to Taiwan as the balance of cross-Strait military power is tipping in China’s favor.”

F-16C

He justified his persistent appeals for American fighter planes saying that “Taiwan people’s top concern is Taiwan’s security.”

In a report released on Monday, the U.S. Defense Department expressed concern over Beijing’s expanding military capabilities directed at Taiwan, saying “the balance of cross-Strait military forces continues to shift in the mainland’s favor.”

The report drew protest from Chinese government over its “interfering nature, distortion of facts, and baseless speculations.” The Chinese Defense Ministry condemned the Pentagon report, and clarified that its military “does not pose a threat to any nation.”

“We hope the U.S. can continue to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, including F16 C/Ds, diesel submarines and other items we have requested,” Taiwan defense ministry spokesman Yu Sy-tue said.

Receiving a delegation from the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies earlier this month, Ma Ying-jeou said armament like the C/D versions of F-16 fighter jets are necessary not to increase the attack power, but to replace outdated warplanes.

He added that while Taiwan-U.S. military cooperation was important to Taipei, equally important was the need to reduce tension in the Taiwan Strait. He reminded Washington to keep its commitment to sell arms under the Taiwan Relations Act.

At the same time, he repeatedly urged China to remove the missiles facing Taiwan as a condition for Taipei discussing a peace pact with Beijing, which turned a dumb ear to it.
- RTT News